Post pulling mechanism for tractors



May 15, 1951 A. w. BRAUN 2,553,077

POST PULLING MECHANISM FOR 'IRACTORS Filed May 20, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet lFig. I

WwWW mww In ventor Armond W Braun (Fwy Z9. M51815 y 1951 A. w. BRAUN2,553,077

' POST PULLING MECHANISM FOR TRACTORS Filed May 20, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet2 wr n l m" E 0 A N i k I I I l 9 E w n IL N) wx as" n 0: 3 v o q, 4 I.

. (a II n .2' & LL Inventor Armond WBraun May 15, 1951. A. w. BRAUN2,553,077

POST PULLING MECHANISM-FOR TRACTORS Filed May 20, 1947 l s Sheets-Sheets Inventor Armand W. Braun WWW 15? m Patented May 15, i951 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE POST PULLING MECHANISM FOR TRACTORS Armand W. Braun,Grafton, Iowa Application May 20, 1947, Serial No. 749,267

3 Claims. 1

My invention relates to improvements in post pulling mechanisms fortractors of the type embodying a power lift mechanism.

The primary object of my invention is to pro vide a mechanism adaptedfor mounting on the power lift mechanism of the tractor to grip a postupon opposite sides thereof and lift said post out of the ground withoutcrushing or breaking the post.

Another object is to provide a mechanism of the character and for thepurpose above set forth which is adapted for self gripping action andwith different degrees of pressure which may be regulated by the driverof the tractor as occasion may require.

Still another object is to equip the power lift mechanism of a tractorwith a self gripping post pulling mechanism which is simple inconstruction, adapted to be installed without change in the basicstructure of the power lift mechanism, will not get out of order, and iscomparatively inexpensive to manufacture and service.

Other and subordinate objects, also comprehended by my invention,together with the precise nature of my improvements, and the advantagesthereof, will be readily understood when the succeeding description andclaims are read with reference to the drawings accompanying and formingpart of this specification.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in side elevation illustrating myinvention in a preferred embodiment thereof;

Figure 2 is a view in rear elevation with parts eliminated for clearnessof illustration;

Figure 3 is a view in horizontal section taken on the line 33 of Figure2;

Figure 4 is a view in vertical transverse section taken on the line 4-4of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a view in rear elevation of a modified embodiment of theinvention; I

Figure 6 is a view in horizontal section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure5;

Figure '7 is a view in vertical transverse section taken on the line'i-l of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, my improved post pullingmechanism has been shown therein as forming an attachment for a type ofhydraulic lift mechanism which is well known in the art and, therefore,has been illustrated conventionally and need merely be described brieflyas sufiicient to a proper understanding of the invention.

Such hydraulic power lift mechanisms include a pair of side lift bars I,one of which is shown in Figure 1, extending rearwardly from the tractor2 and pivoted thereon at the front ends of said bars, as at 3, forvertical swinging movement. The side bars I are swingable by a pair ofvertically s'wingable crank arms, one of which is shown at 4,operatively connected to said side bars I by a pair of links, one ofwhich is shown at 5. The crank arms 4 are swingable by a rock shaft 6 onthe tractor 2 and on which said crank arms are fixed, the rock shaft 6being hydraulically operated under control of a finger tip control leverI on the tractor 2. A vertically swing-- able compression bar 8 extendsrearwardly from the tractor 2 and is centered between the side lift barsI, above the same, to form therewith a parallel link motion, saidcompression bar 8 also forming part of an over load safety controldevice for the hydraulic lift mechanism, which need merely be mentionedin passing.

For a detailed disclosure of such power lift mechanism, reference may behad to U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,118,180 to H. G. Ferguson.

According to my invention, in the preferred embodiment thereofillustrated in Figures 1 to 4, a jaw carrying cross-bar 9 with reducedend trunnions Ill extends between the rear ends of the side lift bars Iwith the trunnions I0 suitably journaled in said bars so that said jawcarrying bar may be held against rotation during swinging of said liftbars I, for a purpose presently seen.

A pair of substantially segmental, coplanar, jaws II with toothedarcuate gripping edges I2 are journaled on the rear side of the jawcarrying bar 9 on a pair of rearwardly extending studs I3 on said bar 9to swing vertically with the toothed edges I2 thereof confronting andspaced apart equi-distantly upon opposite sides of the transverse centerof said bar 9 a distance suitable for a purpose presently seen. Cotterpins I4 and washers I5 retain said jaws II on the studs I3. The toothededges I2 of the jaws II are eccentric to the axis of vertical swingingmovement of said jaws, the radius of the arc, in each instance,decreasing downwardly of said edges I2, so that the pair of jaws I I,when swung downwardly, uniformly, will cause said edges I2 to grip apost therebetween with progressively increasing pressure aginst oppositesides of the post. Preferably the jaws II increase in thickness towardthe toothed edges I2 thereof for reinforcing said edges and the jawcarrying bar 9 is bowed, as at I6, to compensate for the increasingthickness of said jaws.

A pair of curved plates I1 with toothed-edges I8 concentric to the axisof vertical swinging movement of the jaws H are bolted, as at I9, to oneside of said jaws II between the same and said bar 9, so that saidtoothed edges I8 will mesh during vertical swinging of the jaws I I andcouple said jaws together for vertical swinging in unison and againstindependent swinging.

A pull chain 20 is attached, as at 2 I, to one jaw H to be suitablyextending forwardly to the drivers seat '22 of the tractor 2 forswinging said one jaw II upwardly and consequently the other jaw IItherewith.

A pair of upper and lower, vertically aligned,

post forming sections 23, 24 extend from the top and bottom of the jawcarrying bar 9 in the transverse center of said bar. A link 25 ispivoted to the upper end of the upper of said sections 22, as at 26, andto the rear end of the compression bar, as at 21, the jaw carrying bar 9and jaws II being thereby prevented from tilting laterally duringvertical swinging of the side lift bars I and the compression bar 8.Post sections 23, 24 are flush with the rear side of the jaw .3I isprovided on the jaw locking bar 21, and the toothed edges I8ofthe'plates I"! are interposed between the locking bar 2! and the postforming sections 23, 24 so that by lowering said bar 2'! the locking lug3| will be interposed in the line of mesh of said toothed edges I8 tolock said plates I! and said jaws I I against vertical swingmg.

A locking bar operating lever 32 is pivoted, as at 33, in a, fork 34 ofthe upper post forming section 23 to extend toward the tractor 2 forgrasping by the driver on the seat 22, said lever being operativelyconnected to said locking bar 21 by a link 35 pivoted to said lever andto said bar 32, as at 36, 31. a

As will now be seen, with the jaws I I locked, by

the locking bar 21 and locking stud 3|, in upswung position, if thetractor 2 is backed to place the jaws II upon opposite sides of a post38, and the locking bar 2'! then unlocked, as by raising the samethrough operation of the hand lever 32, the jaws II will descend underthe influence of gravity and grip the post 38 therebetween. Then byoperation of the hydraulic lift mechanism to raise the side lift bars Iand the compression bar 8 upwardly, the cross bar 9 with the jaws IIthereon will be raised to pull the post 38. As the jaws I I are thusraised, the same, if left unlocked, tend to grip the post 38 withincreasing pressure.

-By looking the jaws II in a manner which will now be clear, as soon assaid jaws have gripped the post 38 with sufficient pressure to pull thesame, crushing or breaking of the post 38 may be .prevented. To releasethe post 38, after pulling,

the cross bar 9 and jaws II may be lowered by operation of the hydrauliclift mechanism to thrust the post 38 against the ground, thus swingingthe jaws I I vertically on the studs I3 to break their grip on saidpost.

- -In the modified embodiment of the invention ,shown in Figures 6 to 7,a fixed jaw 39 with a smooth, arcuate, gripping edge 40 is substitutedon the cross bar 4| for one of the jaws II and 4 secured thereto bybolts 42, said jaw 39 being suitably spaced from the other jaw 43,corresponding to one of the jaws II, for placing said jaws 39, 43 uponopposite sides of a post as in the preferred embodiment of theinvention. In this embodiment, as will be clear, the gripping action iseffected with successively increasing pressure by downward swinging ofthe swingable jaws 43. The jaws 43 may be locked in the same manner andby the same means as described with reference to the preferredembodiment of the invention, and the modified embodiment is, otherwisethan as described, the same as the preferred embodiment.

The foregoing, will, it is believed, sufiice to impart a clearunderstanding of my invention, without further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification,without departing from the inventive concept, and right is hereinreserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. The combination with the power lift mechanism of a tractor, of a pairof substantially segmental jaws having toothed arcuate convex grippingedges for gripping a post therebetween upon downward swinging of thejaws in unison, means pivotally mounting said pair of jaws separately toswing vertically with said edges confronting and revolving eccentricallyof the pivots of the jaws to move toward each other into grippingrelation, means for attaching said mounting to said power lift mechanismto be raised and lowered thereby whereby said jaws may be raised from alowered position with a post gripped therebetween, means operative fromsaid tractor between said jaws to lock said jaws against verticalswinging, and means coupling said jaws together against independentvertical swinging.

2. The combination with the power lift'mechanism of a tractor, of a pairof substantially segmental jaws having toothed arcuate convex grippingedges for gripping a post therebetween upon downward swinging of thejaws in unison, means for mounting said pair of jaws and on which saidjaws are pivoted to swing vertically with said edges confronting andrevolving into gradually approaching gripping relation, means forattaching said mounting to said power lift mechanism to be raised andlowered thereby whereby said jaws may be raised from a lowered positionwith a post gripped therebetween, means operative from said tractor tolock said jaws against vertical swinging, and means coupling said jawstogether against independent vertical swinging comprising toothed plateson said jaws with the teeth intermeshing between the jaws, said lockingmeans comprising a slide coacting with the teeth of said plates in theline of mesh thereof to block swinging of the same and said aws.

3. The combination with the power lift mechanism of a tractor, of a pairof substantially segmental jaws at least one of which is adapted toswing vertically in coplanar relation to the other jaw, said jaws havingarcuate convex gripping edges for gripping a post therebetween upondownward swinging of the swingable jaw, means for supporting said jawsand on which the swingable jaw is pivoted to swing vertically with itsgripping edge confronting the gripping edge of the other jaw andrevolving into gradually approaching gripping relation thereto, meansfor S attaching said mounting means to said power lift mechanism to beraised and lowered thereby whereby said jaws may be raised from alowered position with a post gripped therebetween to pull said post,means operative from said tractor to swing said swingable jaw upwardlyfor lowering under the influence of gravity into gripping relation tothe other jaw comprising a toothed plate fast on said jaw, and a slidecoacting with the teeth of said plate to prevent swinging of the plate,and means operative from said tractor to lock said swingable jaw againstvertical swinging.

ARMOND W. BRAUN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

5 UNITED STATES PA'I'ENIS Number Name Date 866,638 Ewers Sept. 24, 19071,437,547 Pope Dec. 5, 1922 10 1,764,905 Standfuss June 17, 19302,199,550 Tobias May 7, 1940 2,332,561 Drott Oct. 26, 1943 2,436,510Ferguson Feb. 24, 1948

